Produced by the late Heartbreakers’ bassist Howie Epstein, who also helmed John’s Grammy Winning The Missing Years (1991), Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings (1995) expanded the treasured American bard’s country folk artistry to rock audiences.

Tom Petty and Howie Epstein

With a decidedly in-the-pocket disposition (akin to Howie’s boss Tom Petty, and Petty’s occasional “boss,” namely Bob Dylan), the grooves on this slab, courtesy of studio ace Bob Glaub, serve the songs with a tinge of rhythm & blues bluster.